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On social media, Gibbons had posted a meme showing a picture of the back of a girl and boy model in their swim wear, with the words: "I want you. I want us. I want it all. With you. Only you."

Warned by the girl's father to stay away, Gibbons said he "fully understood" and was "deeply sorry".

Anthony Dunne, prosecuting, said the girl's parents had considered reporting the matter to police, "but decided not to because of the defendant's promise".

The girl eventually admitted they had been having sex and police were called. One explicit image she had sent Gibbons was recovered, which caused her parents "further distress".

Michael Gibbons posted this meme on his Facebook page

Gibbons admitted his guilt to police. "He knew how old she was and what had happened was wrong," Mr Dunne said.

Gibbons, of Blackburn Avenue, Brough, admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child. He denied a further charge of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and was acquitted of that after the prosecution offered no evidence.

Richard Thompson, mitigating, handed in a series of testimonials for Gibbons, who was of previous good character.

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Referring to a pre-sentence report, he said: "Those discussions with the probation officer can't, I submit, have been easy.

"There is always scope for the defendant being criticised for the attitude he advances, but in my submission, he was able to reflect on what had happened and accept an appropriate degree of responsibility."